Paris, France, 1764: Jeane-Antoine Lépine has the revolutionary idea of placing a fake watch movement's escapement and balance wheel in-line with the rest of the components. Vallorbe, Switzerland, 2015: Manufacture Royale introduces their delightful 1770 Voltige wristwatch, harkening back to a time before Lépine's calibre.
The escapement is arguably the most important part of any wristwatch. Usually it is difficult see, hidden underneath the oscillating balance wheel. Manufacture Royale's 1770 Voltige brings both the escapement and the balance wheel up above the dial, making the fake watch a visual treat.
It is interesting to think about the history of movement architecture in relation to this watch. Anyone can buy a quartz fake watch that keeps better time, is much more durable, and much cheaper than a mechanical watch. Part of the reason that we buy mechanical replica watches today is that they are approachable and understandable. Bringing one of the most significant mechanical aspects of the fake watch to the forefront makes the 1770 Voltige intriguing.
The 45mm case wears very well, even with the extra height needed with the special movement architecture. Designed by Eric Giroud, the case is reminiscent of the steampunk style found in Manufacture Royale's collection. The fake watch is a joy to wear, with the balance wheel oscillating in plain view.
Manufacture Royale is not the first maker in modern times to work with this movement arrangement. MB&F's famous Legacy Machine series also brings the escapement and balance wheel to the top of the dial. From my perspective both the 1770 Voltige and the Legacy Machine are beautiful replica watches with appealing movements. There is plenty of room for competition in this category of movement architecture.
For more information, visit Manufacture Royale's website.
Specifications
Reference: Anthracite dial, 1770VT45.01.ACalibre: MR05Type: In-house Mechanical, self-windingDimensions: Diameter 36 mm / Height: 9.45 mmPower reserve: 40 hoursFrequency: 3 Hz, 21,600 vphPlate and bridges: Entirely hand-decorated ?Côtes de Genève on the mainplate, 5N engravingFunctions: Hours, minutes, small secondsBalance spring: Flat BalanceCase Material: Stainless steelCase dimensions: Diameter: 45 mm / Height: 13.8 mmBack: TransparentCrystal: Sapphire, antiglare treatment on both sidesCrown: MR logo, sanded, hand-polishedWater-resistance: 3 ATMDial: Anthracite grey, satin sunray finish, Hand-polished hour markers, small seconds at 6 o'clock, "sieve" structure Strap Material: Alligator, hand-stitchedBuckle: Pin, hand-polished and satin finish stainless steel Price: $33,000 USD
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